Jack Doohan focused on positives after lap one crash ends F1 Australian GP

Jack Doohan's first home Grand Prix ended abruptly with a first-lap crash, and the Queensland driver says he needs to quickly reset and prepare for next Sunday's race. He is determined to learn from this experience and come back stronger.

As the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan, Jack Doohan was one of several drivers affected by the rain-impacted Australian Grand Prix. On the first lap at Albert Park, Doohan's Alpine car suddenly veered sharply left, crashing into the barrier. This unexpected turn of events brought his race to an early and unfortunate end.

The complex weather conditions at the Formula 1 season opener caught even the most experienced drivers, such as Fernando Alonso, off guard. A slight misjudgment could send a car crashing into the barriers, and this appeared to be the single mistake Doohan made before his race came to a premature halt. The challenging conditions highlighted the importance of precision and adaptability in Formula 1 racing.

However, Doohan has no time to dwell on the loss, as Formula 1 is heading to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix next weekend. "It's an unfortunate end to what was an otherwise positive weekend overall," Doohan said after McLaren driver Lando Norris won the race. "It was a combination of factors, and we will review it together as a team, learn from it, and ensure it doesn't happen again. It was a tough lesson, but I have processed what happened and put it behind me, focusing on the races ahead."

While the final result was not what Doohan himself—or the tens of thousands of Australian spectators who flocked to Albert Park—had hoped for, the Alpine driver says there are many positives to take away. The Alpine car showed comparable competitiveness to its midfield rivals in practice, and Doohan says he will focus on that. "The positives from the weekend outweigh the result from [Sunday]," he said. "We were strong in [qualifying] but were compromised by the yellow flag. The speed has been there all weekend, so as a team, we can take confidence heading into each race weekend. We have back-to-back races coming up, with Shanghai next week, and we will regroup as a team and aim to come back stronger there."

The Chinese Grand Prix will be held from March 21st to 23rd. Simultaneously, it will also mark the inaugural race of the F1 Academy season, with Australian drivers Ava Arnaoutis and Joanne Ciconte participating. This event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent and competition.